Zhuhai hosts the opening round of the CTCC this weekend

The 2017 China Touring Car Championship gets underway this weekend, with five factory teams now competing in the combined 2.0 turbocharged main class, with the two-class structure now dropped from this season.

The championship had begun to split in recent years with the 1.6T and 2.0T classes, with Kia and the Dongfeng Honda team in the former, while Ford, Volkswagen, BAIC and Haima had moved into the latter.

With Kia preparing its own 2.0 turbocharged K3S late last year for Alex Fontana, run with support from Hexathron Racing, the future of the 1.6T class was clear, with the category dropped for this year and with Honda leaving the championship.

As a result, Dongfeng Honda driver Martin Xie has joined Kia, which return with drivers Jim Ka To, Jason Zhang and Leo Yi, while Swiss driver Alex Fontana will be their international wild card for the four rounds he’s allowed to compete in.

Changan Ford FRD Team will run their Ford Focus 2.0T for Andy Yan, Rainey He, Martin Cao and Peter Li, while Asian Formula Renault Series champion Josh Burdon from Australia will be their international wild card in selected rounds.

BAIC Senova have already confirmed their line-up, with David and Juan Zhu joined by Darryl O’Young in the team’s Saab-based D60.

Haima Z1 Racing will also be on track, with their driver line-up yet to be announced.

The Shanghai VW 333 Racing team will run their Lamando GTS saloons for Zhang Zhen Dong, Jiang Tengyi, Wang Rue and Han Han and Rodolfo Avila, with Rob Huff their wild card entry. The British driver will join the team later in the year after the European leg of the WTCC and TCR International Series has finished.

The field will be completed by a handful of privateer entries.